INDEPENDENCE — After weeks of often adversarial public meetings on the county’s school budget, Grayson Schools Superintendent Kevin Chalfant on Wednesday issued a statement to local media about the challenges facing school officials.

The statement came a day after parents, students and community members demonstrated outside the school board office to demand changes in leadership and protested recent decisions on budgeting, finances, personnel and safety.

INDEPENDENCE — Letters of interest are still being accepted to fill a vacant slot on the Grayson County School Board.

The Oldtown District seat became vacant last month when Hobert Bailey, a 16-year member, resigned. At the time, Bailey was serving as chairman of the school board.

Vice Chairman Shannon Holdaway said during a recent budget work session of the school board that a special meeting will be held on May 6 at 6 p.m. The school board will review the applicants in closed session.

INDEPENDENCE — Members of the Grayson Citizens for Better Schools staged a peaceful demonstration Monday morning in front of the Grayson County School Board office in Independence, calling for changes in leadership and protesting recent budget cuts and teacher firings.

Several motorists honked their horns as they passed by the group, which held signs referencing school leaders they’d like to see replaced.

INDEPENDENCE — A 2012 incident in Grayson County schools still causes concern for many parents, and a letter obtained by a citizens’ group shows those concerns were shared by the sheriff’s office, as well.

The situation involved a Grayson County High School student who allegedly made a “homicidal threat” to another student and was reportedly seen with a knife at school, according to a letter from Sheriff Richard Vaughan to Grayson Schools Superintendent Kevin Chalfant on Nov. 8, 2012.

RICHMOND – Dr. Dean E. Sprinkle of Statesville, N.C., will become the next president at Wytheville Community College, announced Glenn DuBois, chancellor of Virginia’s Community Colleges. Sprinkle will begin his new post July 1, replacing retiring president Charlie White.

“Dr Sprinkle will be a tremendous fit for Wytheville Community College,” DuBois said in making the appointment. “He has built an impressive career of academic leadership and I’m looking forward to seeing the next chapter of that unfold here in Virginia.”

INDEPENDENCE – Hobert Bailey, chairman of the Grayson County School Board, has resigned.

Bailey has been a member of the board representing the Oldtown District for the past 16 years. He could not be reached for comment on Friday.

School board member Wynn Combs made the motion to accept Bailey’s resignation at last Thursday night’s school board meeting. School board member Fred Weatherman seconded the motion, which was approved unanimously.

INDEPENDENCE — The Grayson County Board of Supervisors proposed approving more than $1 million more in funding for schools than the state requires – but only if school officials meet several special requirements. County Administrator Jonathan Sweet unveiled the proposal for the coming fiscal year at an April 15 budget work session for supervisors.